Joseph’s Journey: Trusting God Through Trials
- Be God's Glory
- Jan 12
- 9 min read
Welcome to The Glory Team Bible Reading plan. In Chapters 37-40 Joseph’s journey begins with betrayal by his brothers and imprisonment in Egypt. Despite his trials, God’s presence is with him.
Genesis 37: Introducing the story of Joseph, Jacob's favored son, who receives dreams signifying his future dominance over his brothers, causing immense jealousy among them; when Jacob sends Joseph to check on his brothers, they plot to kill him, but instead throw him into a pit and later sell him as a slave to a passing caravan, deceiving their father by presenting his colorful coat stained with blood, making Jacob believe Joseph was killed by wild animals, setting the stage for Joseph's journey through trials and eventual rise to power in Egypt.
Genesis 38: Judah, one of Jacob's sons, marries a Canaanite woman and has three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah; when Er dies after marrying Tamar, Judah instructs Onan to fulfill the "levirate marriage" duty by having children with Tamar, but Onan deliberately avoids fathering offspring, leading to his death by God; Judah then promises Tamar that Shelah will marry her when he grows up, but later reneges, causing Tamar to disguise herself as a prostitute and seduce Judah, resulting in her pregnancy and the revelation of Judah's paternity when she presents proof of his identity; despite his initial deceit, Judah accepts responsibility and Tamar gives birth to twin boys, signifying the continuation of Judah's lineage despite his moral failings.
Genesis 39: Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers, is bought by Potiphar, an Egyptian official, and quickly gains favor due to God's blessing, becoming the manager of Potiphar's household; however, Potiphar's wife attempts to seduce Joseph, who refuses, leading her to falsely accuse him of attempted rape, causing Potiphar to throw Joseph into prison where, even in captivity, God continues to bless him, allowing him to gain influence over the prison warden and manage the other prisoners.
Genesis 40: While imprisoned in Egypt, Joseph is entrusted with the care of Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and baker who both have troubling dreams; Joseph interprets these dreams, revealing that the cupbearer will be restored to his position while the baker will be executed, which happens exactly as predicted. Despite the cupbearer's promise to mention Joseph to Pharaoh when he is restored, he forgets, leaving Joseph still imprisoned despite demonstrating his ability to interpret dreams accurately.
Joseph’s Journey: Trusting God Through Trials
The purpose of the book of Genesis are to record God's creation of the world and His desire to have a people set apart to worship Him. The author of the Book of Genesis is Moses. There is plenty of evidence that leads to this conclusion:
The Talmud (The Hebrew Bible, the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law and Jewish theology.) attributes this book to Moses.
Citations from Genesis show that the Old Testament is part of the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 1:8; 2 Kings 13:23; 1 Chronicles 1:1)
Jesus and the New Testament writers attribute Moses as the author of as an essential part of Scripture (Matthew 19:8; Luke 16:29; 24:27)
The original audience of the book of Genesis are the people of Israel and it was written in the wilderness during Israel's wanderings. The setting is primarily the region presently known as the Middle East.
The Key People we will learn about are Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Joseph.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God, including His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption.
Elohim - God, The Strong Creator
Jehovah - Lord, The Self-Existing One
El Elyon - The Lord God Most High
Adonai - Lord, Master
El Roi - God who sees me
El Shaddai - God Almighty
Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will provide
El-Elohe-Israel - God, The God of Israel
El Bethel - The God of Bethel (The House of God)
In Genesis Chapter 37, the narrative introduces Joseph (Yosef, יֹוסֵף, meaning "he will add"), whose journey reflects God’s providence and sovereignty. Though specific Hebrew names of God are not explicitly mentioned in this chapter, His character is evident as the orchestrator of events. God's omniscience and providential plan are subtly displayed through Joseph's dreams, which foreshadow his future rise to leadership and the preservation of his family. The brothers’ betrayal and Joseph’s descent into slavery begin the unfolding of God’s redemptive purposes, highlighting His ability to work through human actions, even sinful ones, to accomplish His greater plan.
In Genesis Chapter 38, God's character is displayed through His justice and sovereignty, even amid human failure and moral complexity. While specific Hebrew names of God are not explicitly mentioned, His role as a righteous judge is evident. The chapter recounts the story of Judah and Tamar, where God's justice is displayed in the deaths of Er and Onan for their wickedness. Additionally, Tamar's bold actions to secure her rightful place in Judah’s family line demonstrate God’s sovereignty in preserving the lineage through which the Messiah would come. This chapter reminds readers of God's unwavering commitment to His promises, even when human actions seem chaotic or flawed.
In Genesis Chapter 39, God's character is revealed as faithful, present, and sovereign in Joseph's life. The Hebrew name YHWH, representing the covenant-keeping Lord, is used repeatedly in this chapter to emphasize God's active presence with Joseph. Despite being sold into slavery and later falsely accused, Joseph experiences God's favor, as the Lord grants him success and causes him to prosper in both Potiphar’s household and prison. God's steadfast presence (“the Lord was with Joseph”) underscores His unwavering commitment to His people, showcasing His ability to bless and elevate them even in adverse circumstances. This chapter highlights God’s providence and His role as the source of strength and blessing in trials.
In Genesis Chapter 40, God's character is displayed as the ultimate interpreter of dreams and the orchestrator of events, pointing to His omniscience and sovereignty. While no explicit Hebrew names for God are mentioned in this chapter, His presence and influence are evident. Joseph acknowledges that dream interpretations belong to God, reflecting God's role as Elohim —the all-powerful Creator and divine authority over human affairs. This chapter demonstrates God’s ability to work through Joseph even in imprisonment, revealing His plan and faithfulness. God’s character is shown as a guide and sustainer, using Joseph to bring hope and insight to those around him, even in difficult circumstances.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions: Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Genesis 37:
How do you relate to Joseph’s experience of betrayal and rejection by his own family? How can you find strength in God's presence when you feel abandoned or misunderstood?
In what ways does the story of Joseph’s dreams challenge us to trust God's plans, even when they seem unclear or delayed?
Joseph's father, Jacob, showed favoritism to him, which caused tension in the family. What does this teach us about the dangers of favoritism or comparing ourselves to others?
What does God's quiet presence in Joseph’s life teach you about His faithfulness, even when life is hard or God feels distant?
What can you learn from how Joseph’s brothers reacted to his dreams and their own jealousy? How does this show us the destructive power of envy and anger?
Genesis 38:
What does the story of Judah and Tamar reveal about God's justice and mercy in the face of human failure and sin?
How does God’s sovereignty shine through in the seemingly unrelated events of Judah’s life and Tamar's struggle? What does this teach us about trusting God's plan, even in confusing situations?
What can we learn about the importance of honesty and integrity from the actions (or lack thereof) of Judah and his sons?
In what ways does Tamar’s persistence in seeking justice reflect God's heart for righteousness, even in challenging circumstances?
Genesis 39:
Joseph resisted temptation in Potiphar's house. What does this teach us about the importance of maintaining integrity and trusting God's presence when faced with temptation?
How did God’s faithfulness to Joseph in his time of trial help him rise above his circumstances? How can you experience God’s faithfulness in your own struggles?
In what ways does God’s presence with Joseph in prison highlight the theme of His constant presence and provision?
What does Joseph’s decision to run from temptation tell us about the importance of making decisive, godly choices in the face of moral challenges?
Genesis 40:
How does Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams demonstrate God's power and sovereignty over life’s events? How can you trust God's wisdom in your own decision-making?
Joseph helped the cupbearer and the baker while in prison, but his situation didn’t change immediately. How does this teach us about serving others in difficult seasons, even when we don’t see immediate reward?
What does Joseph's patience in waiting for the cupbearer to remember him teach us about God’s timing and our need to trust Him, even when things are slow?
How can you see God’s hand in Joseph’s journey, even though he was wrongfully imprisoned? What does this show us about God's ability to use all circumstances for His purpose?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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